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Tuesday, 30 July 2013

Donkey Kong ain't got nothing on me!

Documentaries

This past month I watched a few documentary films. These ranged from steroid use (Bigger, Stronger, Faster) which isn't as bad as you would think, unless it's in sport. Wrestling, (Beyond the Mat) which I hadn't seen in over 10 years but is still as good as when I first saw it, the film, not actual wrestling, I still watch wrestling. And the exciting unpredictable world of competitive arcade gaming. If that last sentence makes no sense to you then you need to watch The King of Kong.

"Stop playin' Donkey Koooonnnggg!"

The King of Kong is a rare thing; a documentary that is so crazy you can't believe it's real. There were times while watching it that I couldn't actually fathom that certain things could really happen. I don't want to give much away but you wouldn't find a better protagonist to root for or a worse unredeemable antagonist in any other films this side of Tarantino.

The story follows Steve Wiebe as he gets a Donkey Kong arcade cabinet and becomes obsessed with beating a near 25 year score record set by Billy Mitchell. Billy Mitchell lives a rockstar-like lifestyle. As much of a rockstar lifestyle that a video game playing hot sauce selling man can have. And when Steve Wiebe enters the lion's den, so to speak, you realise just how many disciples Billy Mitchell has. They will do anything for him seemingly just to be associated with him.

You should definitely watch this film. You never knew there were people out there who took arcade gaming so seriously. And for anyone who thinks they're a nerd just because you wear glasses, watch Japanese anime and act awkward then prepare to feel like a fraud because you will see real nerds in this.

Deceiver of the Gods

I have recently been listening to the new Amon Amarth album Deceiver of the Gods. For anyone who knows who Amon Amarth are then you know how epic their songs can be. For those who don't then you need to get on the longboat. This album is part concept and part typical Amon Amarth songs about war and death.

The concept part is about Loke and his hatred for the gods of Asgard. The opening title track is about his feelings towards the gods and his plan to rule Asgard. "As Loke Falls", if you can't tell from the song title, is about the fall of Loke during his fight with Heimdall. Loke leads the army of the dead from Hel to Asgard during Ragnarok. Next up is "Father of the Wolf". This is the story of how Loke devours Gullveig's heart to raise her from the dead so she can bring forth Fenrir. The last song of the concept is "Shape Shifter". This is basically about Loke's shpae shifting ability and his disdain for the gods.

The next few songs are about battles and revenge which you may think would get old but when Amon Amarth do it you never lose interest in them. In between them there is a song about Hel, the ruler of... Hel. She describes the kind of people who are sent to her realm. This song also has a guest appearance from none other than Messiah Marcolin. No? Nothing? You need to get out more. Or stay in. But listen to Candlemass while you do it.

In the hands of any other band these songs would never sound as grandiose or authentic but Amon Amarth have been doing this long enough and have gotten their sound down. Plus they look like Vikings. Have you seen Johan Hegg's beard? Go look at it now and tell me that the beard alone doesn't give them tonnes of credibility.

I made it easy for you.

No looking, Aishling.

Imax, You-max, We all max

My recommendation this time:
Pacific Rim.

I will forever tell people to see Pacific Rim. If you have the chance to see it in Imax 3D then all the better. It's like 3D except it actually works.
I will have more about Pacific Rim and Imax 3D in my next blog. However I can't understand how it did so bad in the U.S. but everywhere else it was a success. I mean people actually went in their droves to see three shitty Transformer films. And Pacific Rim is nothing like that mess of a series. For one it's actually good. And B, it was made by a proper artist. I'm beginning to think that Americans don't like films unless they're set in America. Just look at the opening weekend box office for The Wolverine.

That's all for now. If you have a problem with anything I said then please direct all complaints to your mother's butt.
Everybody pants now. Pants, pants, pants, pants, pants.